F1 2011 season news / pre-season updates

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JRS said:
The way I understand it:

1) 2010's Lotus Racing, i.e. 1Malaysia F1 Team, have sorted out a licensing deal with the owners of the Team Lotus name to run their cars and team as Team Lotus, with Renault engines. This is possible because Group Lotus, owned by Proton, doesn't actually own the rights to the Team Lotus name AFAIK.


Personally, I hope Fernandes et al get to run their cars as Team Lotus to stick it to Renault and Genii.
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Bingo, never did have the rights to the Team Lotus name. As Flibster posted above they were two separate entities. I think its been posted already but if not http://www.saveteamlotus.com/
The two teams could quite happily run side by side but for whatever reason Group Lotus/Proton/Bahr have taken upon a crusade to strip Tony and the 1Malaysia group of the right to use the Team Lotus name.
 
The most sensible option for Group Lotus was to buy into Team Lotus...

But Bahar seems to be an egomaniac who wants everything in his grubby little paws, and was not at all happy that Fernandes was doing a good job and he had nothing to do with it.
 
Flibster said:
The most sensible option for Group Lotus was to buy into Team Lotus...
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But that's so simple! I think Mike even made a comment along similar lines as to the 2010 return for Lotus Racing was free advertising for Group Lotus because to most people there is no difference between Group or Team Lotus/Lotus Racing.
Still you know you cant be a proper F1 team without fighting court battles and media speculation.
 
JRS said:
The way I understand it:
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Oh I do get the differences, but I just think it's still stupidly convoluted.

Pete19s said:
Its an incredibly bizzare situation, personally I don't see an issue with them both having Lotus in the name. I would hazard a guess but most casual observers would not know any different as to having 3 teams with Mercedes in the name or 2 with Lotus or 3 with Ferrari and the story behind whats going on.
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See again you say that, and again I don't agree.

McLaren Mercedes are McLaren. Toro Rosso Ferrari are Toro Rosso. Completely different situation.

Proton are, for all intents and purposes, trying to turn Renault into Lotus. But we already have a Lotus. And they're going to look identical!
 
Weebull said:
See again you say that, and again I don't agree.

McLaren Mercedes are McLaren. Toro Rosso Ferrari are Toro Rosso. Completely different situation.

Proton are, for all intents and purposes, trying to turn Renault into Lotus. But we already have a Lotus. And they're going to look identical!
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That's fine, I can't expect everyone to agree. You, me and most people on here are well aware of what the guys at Proton are trying to do and thankfully (I hope) they can't attempt to pull a fast one on the fans of the sport as they can everyone else.

*edit*
Just a thought but next season atleast they will still be known as Renault with Lotus as a title sponsor. Will they really attempt to change the name and lose all this years prize money?
 
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WMSC Announcements:

The WMSC approved the introduction of a new specification engine from 2013, underlining the FIA’s commitment to improving sustainability and addressing the needs of the automotive industry. Following dialogue with the engine manufacturers and experts in this field, the power units will be four cylinders, 1.6 litre with high pressure gasoline injection up to 500 bar with a maximum of 12,000 rpm.

The engines will deliver a 35% reduction in fuel consumption and will feature extensive energy management and energy recovery systems, while maintaining current levels of performance. In 2013, five engines will be permitted per driver, but each year after that the limit will be four.

Sporting and Technical Regulations

A number of changes were made to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2011, including:

- The article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted. Teams will be reminded that any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions
- Amendments to the list of penalties Stewards are permitted to apply
- Revisions to driving and driver conduct
- A limit on the width of the fast lane in the pits
- The introduction of a regulation permitting the Race Director to close the pit lane during a race for safety reasons
- The re-introduction of intermediate tyres for 2011
- Penalties to be applied to any driver who fails to use both specification of dry weather tyre during the race
- An amendment requiring gearboxes to be used for five consecutive races, instead of four
- Clarification on when cars can overtake the safety car
- A refinement to the principles of the regulations already agreed concerning moveable rear wings
- A better definition of the reference plane, and reinforcement of bodywork deflection tests, especially at the front of the reference plane
- The allowance for anti-intrusion panels to protect drivers’ legs

Amendments to the 2012 Technical Regulations were made in the following areas:

- Team communications will be made available to broadcasters
- The inclusion of fuel compounds produced from biomass
- A limitation on suspension uprights

*Really? 2012? Why not 2011?*

So 5 engines per driver, going down to 4 in 2014
Reintroduction of Intermediate tyres? Eh? Did they go somewhere in the few days since the last race?
Team orders allowed, but can still bring the sport into disripute... O.K.....

Ugh...
 
Flibster said:
- The article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted. Teams will be reminded that any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions
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Thank goodness for that. Now teams can be much more open and honest about their plans, rather than lie, with a straight face, on global TV (this applies to C.Horner in particular...its got to the stage that if he told me that water was wet, I wouldn't believe him).

In a nutshell, in 2011, we shall be returning the previous rules which existed before the Austria 2002 fiasco. If teams are going to be issuing team orders, they are free to do so, but must do so sensibly.
 
Hang on a mo...

500bar pressure of injection?

500bar?!
7250PSI?!

:eek:

[edit]
Oooh, just read through it again - doesn't mention forced induction anywhere either....
1.6l 12000rpm N/A 4pot engine...

Wow... How utterly amazzzzzz.... zzzzzz...
 
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In all fairness, from a spectator's point of view, the engine size/specification won't make any difference to the racing.

The only time when it will is when the engine power is greater than the traction of the car. At this point, the driver input becomes more important. By lowering the power output, the drivers will basically be able to floor it, through fast corners, rendering any change to the specification of the engine (from a racing perspective) of no consequence.

Personally, I would like to see less aerodynamic down-force - get rid of front and rear wings completely, if necessary - wider tyres, more power/charge in the KERS unit and less fuel (significantly smaller fuel tanks). I would also like to see refuelling.
 
Moley said:
Just announced by the FIA - Team Orders Rule has been removed from the regulations for next year!
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Look 4 posts up form yours. ;) Complete FIA reg changes for F1.

Also, team orders can still result in bringing the sport into disripute under article 151c - so Ferrari will need to be slightly more subtle than Germany.
 
Flibster said:
Hang on a mo...

500bar pressure of injection?

500bar?!
7250PSI?!

:eek:

[edit]
Oooh, just read through it again - doesn't mention forced induction anywhere either....
1.6l 12000rpm N/A 4pot engine...

Wow... How utterly amazzzzzz.... zzzzzz...
Click to expand...

I may be dreaming but I'm sure I've read that it's going to be 1.6turbos, don't quote me though :p
 
Lakeland said:
I may be dreaming but I'm sure I've read that it's going to be 1.6turbos, don't quote me though :p
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This is all that has been released:

Following dialogue with the engine manufacturers and experts in this field, the power units will be four cylinders, 1.6 litre with high pressure gasoline injection up to 500 bar with a maximum of 12,000 rpm.
Click to expand...

Where does it say anything about forced induction?
 
https://twitter.com/CosworthF1 What’s everyone think of ’13 F1 engine regs? 1600cc Turbo & KERS electric motor together producing over 700bhp –same speeds 35% less fuel!

Nothing official as you say but 600hp n/a is not very green in terms of dev, cheaper and easier to stick a blower on.

Is it possible to run an engine with such high fuel pressure without forced air too?
 
The lack of news about HRT is interesting - was expecting them to have been sold to someone (who'd race a Toyota engineered car) by now.

Unless they've secured a backer and not announced it yet, I doubt they'll be on the grid next year, and if they are they'll struggle to qualify with the 107% rule if there only option is to run an adapted version of this years car.
 
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